Alberta releases EoI for 700 MW of renewables

March 30 (Renewables Now) - The Canadian province of Alberta is seeking proposals for the procurement of 700 MW of renewable energy capacity as part of a plan to reach 30% renewable power by 2030.

The Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) on Thursday invited Expressions of Interest (EOI) for Rounds 2 and 3 of the state’s Renewable Energy Programme (REP). Proposals for both rounds will be accepted by April 20. The Request for Proposals (RfP) stage is to start on September 17.

The successful candidates will be known in December. As previously announced, the power grid operator expects these 700 MW of fresh capacity to bring generation that will be enough to supply 300,000 local homes.

Round 2 will seek to add up to 300 MW of renewables capacity and will include a partnership requirement for a minimum 25% equity ownership by Indigenous communities. Meanwhile, Round 3 of the programme will have a procurement goal of up to 400 MW and will be conducted through an open competition as in the first round. Projects under both rounds must have capacities of at least 5 MW, with commercial operations targeted by June 30, 2021.

AESO said it will hold informational sessions about the competitive process on April 17.

At the end of 2017, Alberta awarded 600 MW of wind capacity under the first round of the REP programme. Through the tenders the Canadian province aims to achieve its goal to install 5,000 MW of renewables by 2030.

Veselina Petrova is one of Renewables Now's most experienced green energy writers. For several years she has been keeping track of game-changing events both large and small projects and across the globe.